Let's try again.... SILKIE ROOSTER OR HEN?

[bugglesmommy]

HELP!!!!!!

I am still unsure if my 24 week old silkie Imogene is really a Gene. No eggs, No crowing or obvious rooster behavior. Better pics this time.

 

[Wyandottes7]

I think that it is a pullet, but I'm not a Silkie expert.

 

[bugglesmommy]

So far I am getting Pullet. Can anyone tell me why it seems that way?

 

[Wyandottes7]

So far I am getting Pullet. Can anyone tell me why it seems that way?

Well, the comb is not all that large. Silkie roosters, while they won't develop huge combs, will get large, redder ones. Your bird has a squat stance, whereas a rooster would stand taller. Also, I don't see any "streamers". Streamers are longer, kind of thin feathers that project from the head of Silkie males. Here's an example:

See those longer, thinner feathers projecting out of this birds crest? Those are streamers.

Hope I've helped!

 

[my sunwolf]

Pullet. At 24 weeks that comb is small with no color (some Silkie roosters get a lot of red comb color, and even pullets will go a little red when they come into lay, but this is mostly with hatchery stock). Head fluff afro is very nice and neat, no long wiry strands that would signal cockerel.

 

[my sunwolf]

Ahck, too late

What Wyandottes said!

 

[bugglesmommy]

Thank you guys!!! I have some pretty sweet birds, but she is by far my tamest. I am quite relieved. She is my sole silkie survivor. Every other silkie I tried to raise us this year were killed by predators. 2 to a snake, 2 to a raccoon. Nasty vermin only went after my silkies.